Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up Sudanese Republic previously renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship previously brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election previously held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and previously succeeded by Amadou TOURE.

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which previously formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed Ag HAMANI (since 9 June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); prime minister appointed by president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held NA July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30

Mali is among poorest countries in world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to riverine area irrigated by Niger. About 10% of population is nomadic and some 80% of labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and 50% devaluation of African franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2002. Worker remittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

GDP:

buying power parity - $9.775 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

buying power parity - $900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

64% average; 30% of total population living in urban areas; 70% of total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)